Marion Ceramics

Since 1885

Marion Ceramics was founded in 1885 in the small village of Blue Brick near Pee Dee, South Carolina. For many years the company produced face brick from clay deposits on company owned property. Fired in periodic kilns, this clay burns to beautiful reds, terra cotta and buff colors and at extreme temperatures, blues. The blue coloring was unique in the brick industry and provided the name for the community around the plant. Many current maps continue to show the village of Blue Brick where our plant is located. The excellent firing characteristics of Marion’s clay has enabled the company to develop the unique product lines which are now manufactured. The company has over 100 years of clay reserves.

Vee Brick
Our Vee Brick product line is part of a growing trend to use thin brick in both traditional ceramic wall tile type installations and in all types of wall panel systems. This shift away from traditional brick (full bed depth) masonry is being driven by economics. The use of thin brick can provide tremendous cost savings. Foundations and structural members can be down-sized because of reduced weight. With many panel systems, installation labor can be reduced because panels can be made indoors, off the job site, without trained masons. Panel utilization shortens construction time and can eliminate scaffolding costs. Also, thin brick can be easily used for interior walls including back splashes where full brick would not be practical. In addition, buildings incorporating thin brick panels lend themselves to earthquake tolerant construction features. All of this is accomplished without giving up the rich look and dignity of traditional brick construction or the potential of dramatic architectural statement featuring the vivid natural colors of our Vee Brick product line.

Thin Brick Veneer Masonry
The use of thin brick veneer masonry has evolved over many years. Traditionally, thin brick have been installed in the same way as ceramic wall tile (i.e. on to a vertical substrate which could be masonry or interior or exterior stud wall – steel or wood). These types of installations continue to be used with the coursing of the veneer brick being set by a metal rack nailed to the wall, spacers or the rope method. Ceramic tile installation requirements should be followed for these types of installations.

Since the early 1970’s, numerous thin brick wall panel systems have been developed utilizing many different types of materials. Systems are now available with panels made from metal, insulation foam, cementitious board, masonite, plywood and composite board. Most of these systems were developed primarily for residential use both new construction and especially for remodeling. Owners, architects, and builders should carefully select a system which will work best for each project.

Additional Info for Marion Ceramics Vee Brick:
* Marion Ceramics Brochure (PDF)